The 20 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the United States

Did your best friend make the list?

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By
Caroline Picard

Feb 25, 2016

Dog lovers, perk up your ears. The American Kennel Club just revealed the top breeds for 2015, and lots of favorite companions are back on top. Labs have been the number one pick for a quarter of a century, but there are also some surprises among the ranks. Chances are you know someone who's gotten a French Bulldog or Dachshund in the past year — and it's easy to see why. Those tiny pooches are pretty darn cute, and fun companions to boot.

Curious and merry, beagles will follow their noses anywhere (and often into trouble).

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6French Bulldogs

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The smaller ancestor of the English Bulldog, this breed has a big personality but requires minimal exercise. It's no wonder the big-eared pooches are the top choice in New York, San Francisco, and Miami.

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7Yorkshire Terriers

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Yorkies became a fashionable pet in the late Victorian era, but they started off as vermin catchers in clothing mills.

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8Poodles

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They come in standard, miniature, and toy size varieties, but all poodles are considered one (extremely intelligent) breed. As for that fancy haircut, the "poodle clip" is designed to protect the joints and organs in cold water — even though most work as family dogs now.

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9Rottweilers

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Known as protective guardians, Rottweilers are also super loving and like to cuddle with their owners.

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10Boxers

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Boxers fittingly share a name with the human athletes — they can be super muscular and active.

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11German Shorthaired Pointers

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"GSPs" are known as great hunting and field dogs because of their intelligence and strong sense of smell.

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12Siberian Huskies

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If you don't own a sled, huskies also make clever and outgoing therapy dogs.

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13Dachshunds

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Their somewhat silly-looking torsos do have a purpose — dachshund means "badger dog" in German, referring to their hunting past.

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14Doberman Pinschers

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Dobermans can be alert and protective guard dogs, but breeders have recently favored them as better family companions.

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15Great Danes

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Bigger can be better — this giant breed has been around for more than 400 years! When standing on their hind legs, Great Danes are taller than most people.

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16Miniature Schnauzers

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There are three schnauzer breeds, but the smallest variety is the most popular. Celebrities Bob Dole, Mary Tyler Moore, and Bruce Lee have all owned these friendly, bearded pups.

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17Australian Shepherds

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"Aussies" serve as hard-working herders, obedience dogs, and family companions.

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18Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

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Both King Charles I and Charlotte York of Sex and the City owned these affectionate, gentle pets.

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